The Design Council and the Department of Health in the UK have recently initiated a national design challenge ‘Design for Patient Dignity‘. STBY was asked to contribute to the exploratory research that defined the design briefs in the call for proposals.
A team of researchers from STBY and the Design Council spent 4 days on a ward in a hospital in London. They observed the daily routines, and talked in-depth with patients, staff and visitors. Most of these observations and conversations were recorded through video and photography. The study resulted in 7 edited films, each illustrating a specific design opportunity.
Three other research teams have done related studies in other hospitals. In a joint workshop they all contributed to the overall insights creation that informed the final briefs announced in October 2009.
The national design challenge is an open call for proposals inviting designers to join forces with manufacturers, service providers and specialist contractors to help eliminate mixed sex accommodation and increase patient privacy and dignity in hospitals.
Next to the open challenge the Design Council has also involved some universities and design colleges to work on products, services or systems which can directly or indirectly support Patient Dignity in the delivery of same sex accommodation in NHS hospitals.
